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Anxiety and Alcoholism: A Serotonin Link

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 August 2018

Gary D. Tollefson
Gary D. Tollefson*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, St Paul-Ramsey Medical Center, 640 Jackson Street, St Paul, Minnesota, 55101, USA
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Abstract

The augmentation of serotonin (5-HT) neurotransmission attenuates alcohol consumption, whereas depletion enhances use. A number of serotonin-specific pharmacological probes appear to be effective in reducing the voluntary consumption of alcohol. The 5-HT1A receptor agonist buspirone is an anxiolytic which has been shown to diminish the desire to consume alcohol in anxious alcoholic patients. Thus, serotonin may represent a common denominator for a spectrum of behavioural disorders including anxiety and alcoholism. Novel serotonin drugs, such as the azapirones, may usefully supplement conventional treatment strategies for substance abuse.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 159 , Issue S12: Anxiety and Serotonin , September 1991 , pp. 34 - 39
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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